New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-21
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
"rpr TROJANs IN CARTHAGE"


"THE TROJANS IN CARTHAGE"
AZ MIA fourth concert in Chickerng Hall next Saturday
Aysuing Mr. Van der stuckcn will bring forward an ex-
tremely interesting musical novelty. namely. Hector
Berozs "Trojans in Carthage, arranged Tor the pur
noses OF this performance rs dramatic canata In us
original shane this work heroc opera In five acts
the second and more important part OF the
called "Iyric Poem entitled lies TrOycns" An act
from the shorter opera La Prise Troic." was per-
formed Mt tho musical festival given under the direction
Of Theodore Thomas In the 9TH Regiment Armory III 1887
but none Of music Of The Troans IN Carthage mas
vet been eard able to learn outside OF
Paris and Baden. Yet 1t is the music to when
Berlioz himself attached the greatest Importance
and which critics agree in pronouncng to be among the
compositions which publish the artistic aims OF the
erratc French genius and which his fame VIII rest
Like most OF the large works Of Berloz The Tro)ans
has mournful history. The direct incentive to compose
Il Berl,oz received IN Germany lie relates In his Mem
oirs" that while in wenar visiting the Princess WIN
gensten fwhosc name figures largely In the festory
of sh In 1854 he spoke her about his admiration for
Virgil and an idea he had formed OF grand opera Oh the
model to be founded on the love aa DO
tween Dido and Aneas described In the second anu
fourth hooks of the ned" He added that ne was 700
we'll acquainted with the necessary difficulties OF 'no u
rtkng ever TO attempt 1t The rest OF the anecdote
he relates thus.
"Indeod replied the Princess your passion h,,o TOR
ought 10 produce something grand and uncommon Yon
write a., yS y or
continued objections. but she would hear none OF
she you %o are s1 ss s WEAK n s
Be afraid to brave everything for and Cassandrc
rev. S TO snousS to dee On
Paris began the poem of "Les Troyens." Ine!t at
rections. Changes, additions. etc. I finished it
The admiration for Virgil and Shakespeare which is
spoken Of In this extract from his I" Memoirs was
trait in the character OF Beroz which he published on all
occasions Doubtless there much real sincerity In
his protesatons but he was nothing II not theatrical
On the title page OF his Trojans" he has written
"Dyo Yireilio" and he has himself taken the trouble
to tell us he often read the Eneid on his knees
with tho tears streaming from his eyes, such rectais
produce q singular impression In his book and are not
nearly convincing the music which he wrote Tor the
virgilian story.
Berlioz having finished the opera tried to enlist the
Emperors interest in 1t but failed and after waiting sew
era years he despared of seeing brought out at the
Grand Opera and entered into an agreement with NJ.
Carvaho undertook to bring the work ont at me Inc
Les Troy ens the one immense opera which the Dlrec
ton Of Theatres had said would take eight hours In the
Troyens Carthage" The latter, which takes MP the
being related in an ochestraI Lament and prologue
in which rhaPsode with his Tyre was maze e,, 10
was the opera chosen for representation 1t was
given the first time November 1868 and repeated
public had learned appreciate their greatest mu-
sican and Berlioz remained prophet without honor In
when the national vanity Of the French demanded that
they should find somebody among their own conntrymen
swayed their Instrumental fortunes The spirit which in
1873 called the Berloz festival into being and which IN
~ rn Up, ana coDcsr form % Prise de Toe which
was pot a suddenly awakened love Ito, TOT
has thus far refused Lohengrin" hearing in Paris and
which, the shame Of Camille Saint be 1t said
has led the of living French musicians to deny
those artistic principles which he protested 80 long and
which he still illustrates in his music.
age on the faulty scene and The excisions made
in the He comforted himself by putting the score
into its original shape e. dressing its wounds" he called
- and preparing 1t for future publication any
on the Bsro1 cult which sprang
after the Franco. Prussan war. 1t might be found
pn ias bought S the panofore
Of Berioz and contracted print the orchestral
died in ses the latter part Of the agreement was still
unfulhlled Mile Pellean. an admrer OF Beroz and his
ideals witness her splendid edition OF Gluckl. secured
judicial order against Choudens TO compel him TO live
up his agreement She died soon after and Chondens
waited until about two ago. when he printed the
And now ii Is not as Berlioz wanted Last
Mr. Van der sucken bought the right Of perform
The opera as has already been intimated deals with
e se be ss q forth ows Of Aeeas and
his friends in Carthage during feast TO
the seventh anniversary of the founding Of the city
Hospalities extended to the wanderers Who learn
ing that the city is be attacked by Hbds the
Eumldan King whose offers OF marriage D,do haa re-
fused. offer their services to the Queen and save her es
tate Hunt and TEMPEST In an African forest, during
which Dido and Aeneds exchange lovevows This scene
Is treated Ia descriptive symphony. Duo conirves
dances and entertainments to charm Aeneds, VINO IS
haunted By the voices OF dead Trojan heroes tat recall
his mission by mysterious cries OF Italy After love
duet the OF the Trojans because OF the constantly
recurring admonons becomes 40 great that Aeneds
gives the order to depart They sail away. Dido In de-
spair builds pyre to burn the gifts OF the false one
and the Priests Of Pluto chant an Invocation TO
the gods Of the underworld asking them 10 grant forget
fuIpe y IN the
in prophetic ecstasy calls out the OF her future
avenger Hannibal" but dies with the vision of The
Eternal City before her breaking eyes. Above the
triumphant strains OF the Trojan march In the orchestra
the Carthagenans eternal hatred TO AeneaS and
his descendants
For performance I'm the form OF dramatic cantata the
has been much condensed. but In a manner which
will 1t Is thought, heghten Its musical effectiveness
Instead OF five there I'VE parts each one o. whch
will be introduced by narrative In blank verse; or
rhymed peuameters. TO be read or declaiined by MI
cidents whose presentation ON the stage made the
Introduction OF many scenes which are muscauy uh-
interesting essential Tho purpose In introducing
Whose speeches written by Mr. Joseph
g. Tunison and Mr. H. f. KrehbeD partly TO prevent
breaks In the thread OF tho story and partly also 10 Test
the effectiveness Of form OF entertainment which Tor
centuries popular method OF presenting the Deau
fu and pathetic old love story.
Ia the performance the work Mr. Van der Stucken
will employ besides excellent solo talent his orchestra OF
sixty musicians and chorus OF $50 members from the
Choral and Arion Societies, and the boy choir or 81
Francis Xavier College, The solo parts will be dstrib
uted as follows:
Dido ............ Mrs Marie Gramm
Anna MISS Mafic 0toeVi
AscdntM "iss .'ro
IoDas ..-..... .............. william Dennison
Edro1L Franz kemDerz
Pen heus. George ffehn